Predestination and Foreknowledge
The truth of predestination itself is not a subject of debate within Christianity, for it is clear that the Almighty God who is outside time and space in his Omniscience always knows all things, created all things and is sovereign over and in all things. In this first section we will provide the scriptures and the meanings for the words Predestined, Foreknowledge, and Foreknown.
Predestined
The word Predestined is translated from the Greek word Proorizo which is a compound word from Pro and Horizo.
G4309 – proorizō - pro-o-rē'-zō - προορίζω
1. to predetermine, decide beforehand
2. in the NT of God decreeing from eternity
3. to foreordain, appoint beforehand
G4253 – pro - pro' - πρό
Before
G3724 – horizō - ho-rē'-zō - ὁρίζω
1. to define
2. to ordain, determine, appoint
Note: The Strong’s Concordance provides a description that removes much of the meaning of the second half of this compound word, for you can see clearly that Horizo means to mark out the boundaries and limits.
Predestined is found five times in four different books in the scriptures, Acts, Romans, I Corinthians, and Ephesians.
Acts 4:27-28
27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined G4309 to occur.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined G4309 to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined G4309 , He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
I Corinthians 2:5-8
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined G4309 before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
Ephesians 1:3-12
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined G4309 us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight 9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined G4309 according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
Foreknowledge
The word Foreknowledge is translated from the Greek word Prognōsis which is a compound word from Pro and Gnōsis.
God’s Foreknowledge or Prognōsis is found two times in two different books in the scriptures. The first is in Acts as Peter announces to the Jews, how Jesus was delivered by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.
Acts 2:22-24
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge G4268 of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
As we see today’s Modern Physicians use their Prognosis as stated in websters dictionary “the prospect of recovery as anticipated from the usual course of disease or peculiarities of the case”. We can rejoice for Jesus is not only the Great Physician he is also our cure.
In I Peter we see Peter writing to those “who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit". We see the entire process of Faith, Grace, Born Again, Sanctification, and Salvation woven into this chapter.
I Peter 1:1-9
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge G4268 of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Foreknown
Foreknown is translated from the Greek word Proginōskō which is a compound word from Pro and Ginōskō.
Foreknow or Proginōskō is found five times in four different books in the scriptures. In Acts it is used for Paul and his past and what was already known about him, In Romans 11 it is used for the Jews, in I Peter it is used with Jesus, and in II Peter it is used for Christians personal foreknowing as they have been taught.
Romans 8:28-30
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew G4267 , He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
In First and Second Peter Foreknow and Foreknowledge is used in multiple places, and it is used I Peter 1:20 for Jesus 'For he was foreknown before the foundation of the world".
I Peter 1:18-21
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown G4267 before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.